Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 131: When Konoha Burns!

As the sky over the Land of Fire became shrouded in dark clouds and heavy rain poured down,

the neighboring Land of Rain saw a rare clearing of its skies.

Countless stars hung low, painting a reachable canvas that seemed to wash away the day's troubles.

The bright moonlight illuminated the earth, casting a thin, silvery veil over the coarse sand, gravel, and wind-eroded rock pillars of the Gobi desert.

The night wind was harsh and cold, making Uchiha Ci's face feel dry and stiff, sending shivers down his spine.

Before him, the resolute and heavy gazes of Shinsui and Shisui made him momentarily dazed.

Soon, Uchiha Shinichi's expression turned grim as he drew a kunai from the pouch on his back, gripping it tightly.

His cold gaze fixed on the Sand ninja camp behind the distant rock pillars as he spoke in a low voice:

"Uchiha Ci, remember this."

"The elite Anbu unit of the reconnaissance and assassination team is stationed precisely ten kilometers to our west."

"They'll fire signal flares—red, yellow, green, and blue—each representing a different meaning."

"Green means they've started their operation."

"Blue signifies mission completion and an immediate retreat."

"Yellow means trouble; they'll need us to stall for more time."

Uchiha Ci raised his head, his gaze flickering. "And what about red?"

Shinichi exhaled heavily, his tone grave.

"You'd better hope we never see that one."

A suffocating silence filled the air, and no one spoke again.

Before long, a ninja suddenly stood up behind them, shouting a warning:

"Captain! West side!"

The three Uchiha turned their heads. At the far end of their vision, near the western border of the Land of Wind, a plume of green smoke rose high into the sky!

"Shinichi! What should we do?" Shisui sprang to his feet, drawing his blade as his Sharingan lit up, his face filled with tension.

"Wait!" Shinichi's breathing grew rapid as he tightly gripped the kunai.

"In battle, Shikaku Nara is at least trustworthy for now."

"The commander hasn't given us the order yet. Hold—"

Before Shinichi could finish, a ninja behind him stood abruptly, pointing toward the Sand ninja camp in alarm:

"Captain, look over there, at the Sand camp!"

The group turned their gazes to the Sand ninja camp.

Moments after the green smoke rose, a swarm of Sand ninjas surged out like a flood, almost emptying their camp.

The Sand shinobi advanced swiftly, kicking up coarse gravel from the Gobi desert. Rolling clouds of sand rose over five meters high, sweeping toward them.

The formation charge was terrifying, and their target was unmistakable—the position of the Konoha ambush unit!

"Fifty… one hundred… two hundred… over three hundred!"

"Eight of them are wearing jonin uniforms!"

"Shinichi, something's wrong!" Shisui's Sharingan eyes widened as he stared intently at the enemy, his gaze trembling.

"This group isn't moving to reinforce the border of the Land of Wind."

"Their target—"

"—is us!"

"They've known our location from the very beginning!"

Shinichi gasped, his expression freezing in shock.

"This…"

Before he could react, the rear scout cried out in terror:

"Captain! Behind us!"

Shinichi whipped his head around, his pupils trembling violently.

In the borderlands of the Land of Wind, where green smoke still lingered, a red plume suddenly shot skyward, fluttering in the relentless wind like the scythe of death itself.

Seeing the ominous sight, Shinichi felt his lips dry out. He tried to swallow, but his throat was too tight to allow it.

Faced with dire threats from both directions, the ninjas froze in terror, their faces pale with horror.

Unlike Uchiha Ci, they understood what the red smoke signified.

It meant only one thing: Fight to the last breath! Fight until death!

Ci's heart sank as he stared at the scene.

Piecing together Shinichi's words and the intel he knew, he realized that the elite Anbu team executing the destruction of the venomous weapon ten kilometers away was led by his superior, Aburame Ryoma.

Ryoma, a jonin skilled enough to exchange blows with the future Fourth Mizukage Yagura, was now in grave danger.

What could have happened over there? What did the red smoke mean?

The thought that Ryoma—the man who once saved his life—might be in mortal peril made Ci's mind whirl with chaotic thoughts, his heart growing heavier.

But now, all he could do was…

Ci took a deep breath, slightly bending his knees as he gripped the Kusanagi sword.

His gaze locked onto the three hundred Sand shinobi ahead as the crimson glow of his dual-tomoe Sharingan ignited.

Just then, a hand reached out and gripped his wrist.

Shinichi's three-tomoe Sharingan stared intently at Ci.

His breathing was heavy, his face tense, yet his tone was as unyielding as tempered steel:

"Ci!"

"Trust me!"

"Trust us!"

His reddened eyes and trembling face betrayed his emotions as he continued:

"Because of this war, I've already lost a clansman! A dear friend! Countless comrades!"

"I can't lose the dream I vowed to achieve, even in death!"

"You, a brat, should stay at the rear, in the village, sucking on a milk bottle, training in taijutsu, and growing into a towering tree!"

"Do you understand?!"

With that, Shinichi stood abruptly, facing the 89 members of the Konoha ambush unit.

Raising his kunai, he roared with fury and determination:

"Everyone!"

"The plan has changed! The reinforcements arranged by the higher-ups haven't appeared!"

"Our intel is exposed, and the mission has failed. Now, the only path left is to die fighting!"

"I know you're all scared. I'm scared too!"

"But let me tell you this."

"There are two kids in this squad! One is twelve, and the other is seven!"

"Their lives shouldn't end here!"

"To hell with this mission! From now on, screw it all!"

"I'll lead the charge!"

"For them, I'll carve out a path to survival!"

"Just like the Third Hokage says every year during the academy entrance ceremony—"

'When the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will never cease to burn. The flames will continue to illuminate the village and inspire new leaves to sprout!'

"Now is my time to burn completely!"

Shinichi turned his back to the squad, his wide eyes fixed on the approaching three hundred Sand shinobi.

He took a determined step forward, roaring without looking back:

"If anyone wants to run, do it now!"

"I'll even save deserters!"

At his words, the restless ambush squad fell silent.

A civilian jonin named Ichi, the second squad leader, let out a snort.

"Shinichi, quit acting like a hero!"

"You've never beaten me at cards!"

"There's no way I'm letting you win now!"

Trembling, Ichi stood behind Shinichi, drawing his blade with resolve.

One by one, his 30 squad members rose, their expressions both firm and fearful, as they took their places behind Shinichi.

Next, a man silently stepped forward, clutching his ninken.

"Third Squad Leader, Inuzuka Akira, reporting!"

All thirty of his men stood as well.

Seeing this, Shisui wanted to rise as the leader of the first squad, but a young man stopped him, smiling.

"Leave this to me, Shisui. I'm the deputy leader, Yano Touma."

At his words, 29 others stood.

Eighty-nine Konoha shinobi, forming a wall before Ci and Shisui, stared resolutely at the enemy.

Ci watched in stunned silence, his nose stinging.

These people had no ties to him. Many he had never met before.

Yet for the Will of Fire, for two children they barely knew, they stood tall.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Shinichi turned slightly.

Seeing his comrades standing firm, his gaze was filled with surprise, and a small smile graced his lips.

Quickly, he turned back, his eyes fixed on the 300 Sand shinobi charging forward.

His blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan spun fiercely as he twirled the kunai in his hand, its blade shining brilliantly.

Then, gripping the kunai tightly, he roared:

"Konoha Ambush Unit, assemble!"

"For the Will of Fire—charge!"